UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous reports that women continue to perform up to five times more unpaid care work than men in the Asia-Pacific region, limiting their participation in formal employment.
The findings at the UN Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment in Bangkok show that three in five employed women work in informal sectors with minimal social protection.
Women’s political representation remains below global averages, with only 20.8% of parliamentary seats held by women compared to the 26.5% global average. Only five countries in the region have more than 25% women cabinet ministers.
The conference, attended by over 1,200 delegates, precedes the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. It focuses on key areas including poverty reduction, decent work, gender-based violence, and environmental issues.
ESCAP and UN Women launched a new report highlighting strategies for gender equality improvement, emphasizing the need for increased investments and political will.
The conference aims to address systemic barriers and promote equal opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.
